In theory, you could use any rod for slow pitch jigging. This is more about the technique than the tackle.
All the same, slow pitch jigging rods are expressly designed to impart the desired action to slow pitch jigs, making it easier to work them at the desired depth, with the ideal energy expenditure.
In short, don’t just buy any outfit without getting informed - and you’re in the right place. Put slow pitch jigs and reels aside for a second, we’re going to focus on rods.
Don’t buy a slow pitch jigging rod without reading this first. There’s been a lot of innovation in the industry and this post will help you get there.
Rod Blanks
The first thing we need to consider is the rod blank, and every rod is made with one; fiberglass, carbon fiber, graphite, and some other high-tech materials.
However, we’re going to keep this about slow pitch jigging, which means there are really only two (related) blank materials for you to focus on, and those are carbon fiber and graphite.
Light, strong, and extremely sensitive, carbon fiber and graphite result in top-tier slow pitch jigging rods.
One innovation we should also take a second to talk about are hollow blanks, which, as the name would suggest, have a hollow core.
Rods like Temple Reef’s Slow Dance are hollow or tubular, with a design that allows you to feed the line through the center of the blank (rather than through rod guides), which helps prevent the line from fouling around the rod or guides, such as might happen in a stiff wind.
Another benefit of a hollow core rod is that hollow core construction is lighter and tends to be slightly more sensitive than rods made with solid carbon blanks.
Rod Length
The next thing we have to put under the proverbial microscope is rod length, which has different implications here than it has for casters.
In a slow pitch jigging rod, length produces a totally different dynamic; for casters, the length of the rod offers leverage that enables longer casting. Here, the length of the rod affects the length of the sweeps you are able to make with the rod, as well as how much pressure you can put on the fish.
First let’s look at longer rods, such as an 8-footer. Why would you want a slow pitch jigging rod this long? Well, for one thing, on headboats, the longer length of such a road makes it possible for you to keep a fish from running your line along the keel, risking a breakoff.
The longer length also gives you a lot of action, giving you more flexibility with how you work the jig.
There is a downside to longer rods, though - the longer the rod is, the harder it will be to work the jig. It will be more physically taxing to work a longer rod and you will get worn out more quickly.
The shorter the rod is, the easier it will be to work the jig, all else being equal.
Butt Section Construction
One note here, on the subject of blanks, is the thickness of the blank where it meets the foregrip. Some rods, like the Temple Reef Grand Cru or the Johnny Jigs Pro Jigger, both feature slightly thicker butt sections.
This gives you a little more leverage when gripping the rod in front of the fore grip, for extra ergonomic comfort and control, whether you are working a jig or playing a fish.
Slow Pitch Jigging Rod Reel Seats
The reel seat, section of the rod that secures the jigging reel, is another area that should get some attention.
Traditionally, jigging rod reel seats, like the rod blanks themselves, have been made with carbon fiber, which is light, strong, and which exhibits a good deal of flexibility.
There are also some rods, like the Johnny Jigs Pro Jigger Plus, which has an aluminum reel seat that has a special arbor inside that allows flex through the reel seat even though it is made of aluminum.
The Trigger
Slow pitch jigging rods also exhibit some variation in the size of the trigger as well as where the trigger is located.
Some triggers are engineered to fit between your pinky and ring finger, increasing comfort, control and leverage over the rod. Others are designed to be palmed, which puts the trigger outside the closed grip so that it rests against the outside of the pinky.
Grip Material: EVA Foam
Most slow pitch jigging rods are made with grips made of EVA foam, which is lightweight and fairly durable.
Traditionally, the foregrip of a slow pitch jigging rod (the part in front of the reel seat) is fairly short, with little to no extension up the blank. This is true of the butt section, too (behind the reel seat).
Most slow pitch jigging rods are made with split grips, wherein there is a short section of EVA foam beneath the reel seat, and then another nub all the way at the butt of the rod, with the blank exposed in between.
Exposing the blank in between makes the rod more fragile, but it considerably increases the sensitivity. This enables you to lay your forearm directly alongside the exposed section of the blank through the butt, giving unparalleled feel.
Some rods are made with EVA foam grips that extend from the butt a little higher of the blank to where it splits; this is beneficial because it places less stress on the blank when the rod is placed in a rod holder.
Another benefit of the extended EVA grip is that it adds a bit of tackiness to the butt so that it won’t slip on your forearm as easily, which is a big bonus on days when it’s really hot and you’re working up a sweat.
Another nice feature of the Johnny Jigs Pro Jigger is the gimbal that’s integrated into the base of the rod butt, which helps prevent it from spinning around when placed in a rod holder.
Rod Guides
Rod guides are another area of focus when picking out a slow pitch jigging rod.
Purist slow pitch jiggers tend to prefer what is known as a straight guide system, in which the guides lay directly on top of the rod blank.
Then we have an acid wrap, in which configuration the guides spiral around the rod. There are some anglers who believe that the direction of the “spin” favors either right-handed or left-handed users, depending, but we’ve found that it doesn’t really matter.
There are also neutral guide systems, a spiral system which aims to prevent the line from getting fouled around the rod tip as a result of wind or twist. The first guide will be in line with the reel seat, after which the next one is offset and the guides will progressively roll, following the radius of the rod. This configuration assists with level-winding when retrieving line.
We should also consider rod guide material. Mostly they are made with stainless steel and titanium. Both are fairly good at resisting corrosion but titanium is a bit more expensive than steel.
There is also such a thing called an “air guide system,” made of carbon fiber and pioneered by Daiwa, which is 40% lighter than titanium, but which is also highly rigid, increasing both strength and sensitivity. The other thing about them being made from carbon fiber is that it is corrosion-proof.
We also have to take a look at the guide inserts, and there are three main kinds that are used on slow pitch jigging rods.
One is silicon carbide, SIC, which is hard, smooth, and tough enough to withstand the abrasive force of braided line under tension. They are, however, prone to chipping, which can put your line at risk of accelerated abrasion, or of snapping outright.
Another is zirconia, also known as zirconium oxide, a hard material that is very strong and wear resistant, as well as corrosion resistant.
The last one is known as torzite, which is a very lightweight material that is designed to reduce wear on fishing line. It is also more sensitive, making it better for use with light lines and jigs.
Both torzite and zirconia are slightly more expensive, but they offer premium performance and are not prone to chipping like SIC. They’re all good in their own rights, however.
Slow Pitch Jigging Rods, Jigs and Reels
Hopefully you found this guide helpful - now you know enough to at least start picking out a slow pitch jigging rod. But we’re here to help, so if you have any questions or want a personalized recommendation based on where you’ll be fishing as well as your target species, get in touch with us directly and we’d be more than happy to help.
Otherwise, if you want to see more detailed information, please consult our official YouTube Channel video, Don’t Buy a Slow Pitch Jigging Rod Without Watching This Video.
Now you can turn your attention to slow pitch jigs and reels.